Washtub.



UNITED STATES Patented Tune 30, 1903;

PATENT OFFICE.

wAsl-n'u B.

sP'EoIFIcA'TIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 732,507, dated June so, 1903. Application filed September 30,1902. Serial No. 125,345. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE VANDERGRIFT BLAcKsToNn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Washtub, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to washing-machines; and its object is 'to provide certain new and useful improvements in washtubs whereby the tub is greatly strengthened and the legs thereof securely held in position on the tubbody to insure a firm standing of the washing-machine on the floor or ground and at the same time relieving the lower hoop of the washtub of a portion of the strain incident to the swelling of the bottom of the tub.

The invention consists of novel features and'parts and combinations of the same,- as will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a perspective view of the improvement, part of one of the legs being broken out. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional plan View of the fastening device for securing the upper end of a leg to the center or middle hoop of the tub-body, and Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same with the bolt-nuts removed.

The tub-body A of the washing-machine consists, essentially, of staves A, a bottom A and hoops A A and A for securely binding the staves in position. The tub-body A is supported on a plurality of legs B, preferablyarranged in pairs, located diametrically opposite each other, as plainly indicated in Fig. 1, the legs of a pair being connected with each other by a stay-rod 0, extending under the bottom A of the tub-body and through the chime of the. staves A to finally have their threaded ends extend through the legs B for the nuts 0 of the stay-rods to screw on the threaded ends to securely hold the legs in position, at the same time reinforcing the tub-body and forming a support for the bottom A to relieve the lower hoop A of undue strain when the machine is in use and the said bottom A swells by the action of the water in the tub.

The upper end of each leg B is secured to the middle or center hoop A and for this purpose a fastening device is provided consisting, essentially, of two bolts D, having *their shanks formed with square portions D,

fitted in the ends of a slot A, extending longitudinally in the hoop A and having its middle portion enlarged, as at A to allow of inserting the heads D of the bolts to finally engage the square portions 'D' of the shanks with the ends of the slot A, as plainly indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. In order to accommodate the heads D in the rear of the hoop A it is necessary to form the corresponding stave A with a'recess A, as plainly shown in Fig. 2. The bolts D extend through separate openings in the upper end of the leg B, and the nuts D of the bolts are screwed firmly down onto the outer face of the leg, so as to securely fasten the upper portion of the leg to the middle or center hoop A. Now by the arrangement described it will be seen that none of the bolts penetrate the staves to the inside of the tub, and consequently no leakage whatever is possible on this account, and at the same time the legs are securely fastened in position on the tubbody without the use of sockets, brackets, or the like heretofore employed.

The stay-rods C greatly strengthen the tubbody, and especially serve as a'support for the bottom and as a fastening means to assist in securing the legs B in place on the tubbody below the lowermost hoop A Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A washtub having a body formed of staves held together by means of hoops, legs for supporting said body, extending with their upper ends on the outside thereof, fastening means extending through one of the hoops of the body for securing the legs thereto, the outer end of said fastening means being seated or extended into the legs, the inner end thereof bearing against, the staves of the tub, the construction being such that the legs are secured to the aforesaid hoop, and

ICO

stay-rods extending under the bottom of the tub through the chime thereof and through the legs, substantially as set forth.

2. A washtub comprising a body having recessed staves, a bottom, a hoop formed with a slot communicating with each recess and having an enlarged middle portion, a leg engaging said hoop, and bolts seated in the recess and extending through the slot and through the leg, substantially as set forth.

3. A washtuohaving a body formed of staves, a bottom, spaced hoops binding the staves in position, legs for supporting the body, extending on the sides thereof over the lower and middle hoops, stay-rods under the said bottom, extending through the chime and legs, below the lowermost hoop, and bolts removably held in the middle hoop and en gaging the upper end of the said legs, as set forth.

4. A washtub having a body formed of staves, a bottom, spaced hoops binding the staves in position, legs for supporting the body, extending on the sides thereof over the lower and middle hoops, stay-rods under the said bottom, extending through the chime and legs, below the lowermost hoop, and bolts removably held in the middle hoop and engaging the upper end of the said legs, the heads of the said bolts extending in recesses formed on the outer faces of the staves, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE VANDERGRIF'I BLACKSTONE.

Witnesses:

ANDREW J. LIND, J OHN P. MOYNIHAN. 

